Match Report : 16/01/2016

Blackpool scored five goals for the first time since August 2012 on their way to slaughtering Scunthorpe United 5-0 on a memorable afternoon at Bloomfield Road.

With free-flowing football on show, The Seasiders found their deadly streak to lift themselves out of the relegation zone and give their goal difference a boost.

Tom Aldred headed home the opening goal and a first-half brace from Brad Potts lifted spirits further, but not content with three, they killed their hosts off after that.

David Norris and Danny Philliskirk both got off the mark in tangerine after the break to leave the majority inside Bloomfield Road feeling ‘Glad All Over’ come 5pm.

Looking to achieve their first double since April 2014, Blackpool quickly went about their job and moved ahead just two minutes in. Jim McAlister’s floating free-kick was met by a towering header from Aldred, which left Luke Daniels grasping at thin air.

The Seasiders were playing all the football in the snow and it took them no time to double their lead. A fine passing move, which Jack Redshaw was at the heart of, cut Scunthorpe apart and when the striker fed Potts he made no mistake with the finish, slamming past Daniels.

The Scunthorpe danger man Luke Williams was looking their main threat early on and fired a simple effort straight at Colin Doyle moments later, before Kevin van Veen flashed a shot wide.

However Daniels was remaining the busier keeper, as striker Philliskirk and Redshaw showed promising link-up play, with the latter having a deflected volley saved. Then, after Potts’ effort was blocked by Scott Laird, Will Aimson blasted wide from the following corner.

The lion’s share of chances were coming from set pieces and 14-goal Paddy Madden will have been disappointed to glance wide with his first sight of goal. It was left for Potts to show him how it’s done, as the midfielder was sent racing into acres of space by Norris, and kept his composure by placing his effort beyond Daniels.

Blackpool had left their opponents shell-shocked and Williams shifted an effort off target, as the hosts went in with a healthy lead.

Half-Time: Blackpool 3 Scunthorpe 0

Despite The Iron starting off the brighter side in the second-half, Pool continued where they’d left off by claiming a fourth. A brilliant back heel from Mark Yeates started it off, as David Ferguson went scampering down the left, and after McAlister and Redshaw both had efforts cleared off the line, Norris was well-placed to notch his first goal for the club.

Not content with four, The Seasiders looked like scoring every time they went forward and Yeates had an effort tipped over by Daniels. At the other end, the returning Neal Bishop volleyed at Doyle, who was having a quiet afternoon.

As the contest entered the last ten minted United began to exert some pressure and after Murray Wallace headed a guilt-edge opportunity wide, Doyle excelled to turn Madden’s powerful effort over the bar.

The Irishman’s team mates then rewarded him for that save with a fifth goal. Redshaw wriggled through to get things going and once Potts slipped in Philliskirk, the former Oldham man was coolness personified by firing a low effort into the bottom corner.

That was the final moment of a thoroughly-enjoyable afternoon at Bloomfield Road, as Pool moved out of the relegation zone.